President Erdoğan: Some European countries, international organizations interfere to prevent extradition of terrorists

Turkey on Tuesday called for strong international solidarity against the PKK and Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) – the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey – and other terror groups, stressing that their members and ringleaders should not find safe haven.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that Turkey – located at the intersection of Africa, Asia, and Europe – faces various security threats.

Instability in the region creates new threats in addition to the terrorist PKK, which Turkey has fought a four-decade war against, he said.

In its terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children. and infants.

The refugee crisis, the emergence of the YPG/PKK – the terrorist PKK’s Syria branch – and Daesh/ISIS are among the threats that originated from the instability in Syria and Iraq, at Turkey’s doorstep, Erdogan said.

Turkey is the only country that directly fought Daesh/ISIS, he said, adding that intelligence provided by Turkey played a role in the thwarting of numerous terror attacks.

Praising the cooperation between Turkey and Interpol on the extradition of criminals including pedophiles, drug smugglers, and murderers, Erdogan, however, expressed Turkey’s frustration concerning lack of cooperation in the extradition of PKK and FETO terrorists.

In this context, Erdogan criticized some European countries and international organizations for interfering with Interpol, calling on members of the international police group to support the struggle against terrorism unconditionally.

Turkey has criticized the US and Greece, among others, for failing to extradite FETO members and ringleaders.